NHLA team asked board member, Matt Carter, to tell us about his career history and interests. He resides in Northern Nevada and is the Director of Hotel Operations for the Carson Valley Inn in Minden located in a beautiful valley area of Northern Nevada.
Matt is a 4th generation born native to Nevada as is his high school sweetheart and wife Debbie. They have two children Laura, Biology/Chemistry degree from the University of Nevada and Paul Carter, Business Information Systems major at the University of Nevada. Debbie works for International Gaming Technologies in Reno.
UNR Graduate
Matt graduated from the University of Nevada with a degree in Business Administration and a major in Economics. After graduation, he quickly found his way into a Hotel Management training program for Wyndham Hotels. He was the third trainee in the history of the company. His father owned motels in N. Nevada which is where he gained a passion for the hotel business.
Moving back to Reno
After a number of years with Wyndham working through Sales and the Hotel Front Office in places like Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston and Palm Springs, Matt and Debbie decided to move back to Reno as they were starting their family. Matt was hired by the Fitzgerald’s Gaming Group into their Marketing Department because they needed a person with hotel background as they were planning a new hotel tower at Harold’s Club. The tower was never built and Matt worked his way through many facets of Casino Marketing over the next 7 years. He was hired by the Silver Club Hotel/Casino in Sparks as Director of Sales and Marketing. During this time, he also assumed the responsibility of running the hotel.
Matt finds his way back to hotel operations
“In my career, I always seem to come back to hotel operations.” After about 7 years with the Silver Club and ownership change, Matt moved to the Carson Valley Inn to work as Casino Marketing and Promotions Manager for 9 years. When the CVI was purchased, he was asked by the incoming ownership to take a position as Director of Hotel Operations where he’s overseen the Hotel, Motor Lodge and RV Park for the last 5 years. Matt also works closely with the Sales areas. “The Carson Valley Inn has become a professional passion because of the incredible team assembled at this property and the dedication of ownership. I don’t want to work anywhere else.”
Matt enjoys the great outdoors of Northern Nevada
Matt’s passions other than his family are skiing and hunting and Wolf Pack sports. “We spend a lot of our down time taking advantage of the great outdoors of the Sierras, Tahoe and the Nevada Outback. Maybe some other time, I could tell you the rattlesnake story.” Matt and Debbie are also enjoying their time as empty nesters taking the opportunity to travel whenever possible.
